Rudder control mechanism



Jan. 1, 1946. J. F. MQRsE RUDDER CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Dec. 1, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN F. MORSE Jan. 1, 1946. "J. F. MORSE 392,056

@UDDER CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Dec. 1, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l l l fi grwwm JOHN F. MORSE 4 Sheds-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 1, 1943 JOHN F. MORSE Jan. 1, 1946.

J. F. MORSE 2,392,056

RUDDER CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Dec. 1, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 JOHN F- MORSE Patented Jan. 1, 1946 UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE RUDDER CONTROL MECHANISM John'F. Morse, HudsomOhlo Applicationbecember 1, 1943, Serial No. 512,619

.31 Claims.

oresent invention relates mzimarily :to steering mechanisms for operating rudders .on power craft, although in its broader aspects it is also useful and adaptable .to control mechanisms for other craft, such, :for example, as aircrait. "The :inventionwill he described in connection :with power boats without, however, limitin it :to this particular-field.

In any :prior Patent No. 2,321,098 of June 8, 1953, there is :shown a heat control system in which a'single stick controls the rudder and the engine and transmission. The :present invention is an improvement :npon 213118 device shown and described therein, but is particularly directed to the rudder central feature therefl. The transmission and engine controls have also been J1mnroved and coordinated with the rudder control the :same general combination shown in any prior patent and, therefore. certain parts of the transmission .control have "been shown herein ibut are not descrihed except in :so far as itrmay be necessary to make a 'fullwand complete disclosure of the operative irudder control :mechanism which is the subject of the present invention.

Asiin myrprior .patentrreierred to, the operation of the'rndderis accomplished by moving the control stick from right .to left without in any way zafitecting the operation of the transmission and engine control which is performed hymoving the :stick forwardly r hackwardly.

It wastound that "in connecting the stick directly "to the rudder the operation of the :stick wasnot .suflic'iently sensitive-to give the operator zproper control of the 'boat during cruising when the course isv ggenerally straight ahead. .It is desirable in cruising to be "able to vary the posi- :tion of the rudder "through .a very small angular :movement, but 'with a direct connection between the rudder and the stick as .in fmyformer :patent it was difficult :togauge the movement of the stick to obtainlhnited angular deflectionofftherudder .or to hold the rudder :irom slight angular placement because a small degree of angular movement of the rudder causes a movement of the stick of corresponding amplitude only. The present invention obviates this objection by means of a variable ratio device .by' which a very slight movement of the rudder from its neutral .positionisreflected in .a magnified angular displacement of the control stick. It is, therefore, possible by the use of the present invention to secure "accurate and sensitive control out the rudvder within the immediate range .of its "neutral .or

straight-ahead position.

boat in close uarters to haue a greater angular movement of the rudder with a given angular movement of the control stick. :and the mechanism shown herein-also achieves that desirable result.

In commercial {types of steering mechanisms for beats, the wheel was the accepted and universally employed 'means of rudder control. Wheel control is so designed that it takes several complete revolutions of the wheel to move the rudder irom one extreme to the other. {This .requires much exertion on the part of the operator in maneuvering the boat. The simple and offertive stickcontrol which has been -periected in the .presentiinvention is :much superior to the old style steering devices for the reason that it gives all of the sensitive control necessary -;in theintermediate -or straight-ahead :position of the rudder with -the more direct action which is desirable in the extreme rudder positions, such-as may he used in docking the boat or maneuvering at slow speed, and, addition, the complete cycle of rudder movement is all withina relatively small arc of angular movement of the stick.

Itris-alsodesirable, particularly in 2a rudder control device of this-design, to provide a means :for setting the rudder at any desirable degree of angular position without affecting the :position of the control stick. This is in the nature of a :trimmer control icy which the :operator may vary :the angular position oI-zthe rudder without :moving stick from its central position. This is BX- tremely :useful in offsetting the :effect of a strong side wind, it 'being .zlJQSSible to hold the boat on f a straight icourse for at given objective while the .is :in its central-position by adjusting the rudder so :as to compensate for the forces which would carry the "boat .loff :its course.

The rudder controlhere disclosed has especial value in running with a following sea of'consid- =erable intensity. It is extremely dimcultto steer the "boat under such adverse weather conditions with the standard type of wheel control. A r01- lowing sea, particularly in a guartering direction, "will causethe boat to ,slew around, andunless the operator great experience it'is extremely difficulttolholdthehoat'on'its course or even to prevent capsizing'o'fa small "boat if the sea'is extremely thigh. Withthe present "invention the operator instinctively does just the right thingfto correct these renditions, .for the "listing (of the boat will cause .him to respond by moving the stick in the right direction to move the rudder Conversely,:it is desirable in "maneuvering the as i more: position and instantaneously to combat the action of the wave which is tending to spin the boat around.

The invention has many other advantages which will be apparent to an experienced power boat operator. It removes many of the hazards of operating a boat in high seas and makes it very easy to operate a boat in close quarters where instantaneously correct action may be imperative. These results are obtained without in any way interferingwith the functions of the control stick as an engine or transmission control device.

As has been suggested above, the invention is also applicable to the somewhat analogous field of aeronautics and may be adapted to aircraft control without altering the basic features of novelty and utility set forth.

The invention has been shown in its best known and preferred form, but the incorporation of improvements or modifications in the device does not alter the underlying and basic features of the invention. It will also be understood that in the application of the invention to specific installations or to meet special conditions of service, it may be desirable to change or vary details of the device without sacrificing the benefits of the conception. In the broader aspects of the invention the variable ratio mechanism and the trimmer control may be applied to Wheel type rudder control. I

In the drawings which show a fully tested and practical embodiment of the invention in its prefered form:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a rudder control mechanism, parts being broken away to conserve space on the sheet;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the dual purpose control stick, certain of the connections to the transmission an engine control being shown;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the main operative parts of the control system showing particularly the trimmer device;

Fig. 5 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the means employed to secure the variable ratio stick movement and rudder movement;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view which illustrates the principles of the variable ratio mechanism.

In the drawings, the outline of a boat interior is indicated at I and the partition at the front of the cabin is indicated at 2. Other parts of the boat which support the various elements of the device have either been omitted or shown fragmentarily, it being understood that in any boat design the location and mounting of the various operative parts Will depend upon the interior construction and design of the boat.

The control stick is indicated at 5 and is shown in enlarged detail in Fig. 3. It is called a dual purpose stick for the reason that it actuates the rudder by rocking to the right or left while it controls the transmission by rocking it in a plane at right angles to its rudder control movement.

For this purpose the stick is pivoted at its lower end, as at 6, to a depending bracket 1 fixed upon the rocking, tubular shaft or sleeve 8. The shaft 8 extends to the location of the rudder control and transmits its movement to'the rudder by the means to be recited.

Within the tubular sleeve or shaft 8 is the longitudinally shiftable rod or shaft III which extends to and operates the transmission. parts of which together with the engine control necessary to complete an operative combination constitute an embodiment of the broad features set forth in my prior patentreferred to.

The forward end of the shaft l0 projects beyond the sleeve 8 and is connected to a knuckle joint [2 suspended in links l3 which are pivoted at their upper ends to a bracket l5 fixed to the forward end of the sleeve 8. Links l6 connect the lower end of the stick to the knuckle joint so that movement of the stick about the center 6 is transmitted to the shaft l0. As shown in Fig. 3, the control stick is in its forward position being held by the spring actuated detent 24 engaging the front of lug 25. When the stick is moved to neutral position, the spring detent I 8 moves behind the lug I9 which holds the stick in that position from which it can be moved into forward position after raisingthe detent by pressing the trigger 20 which is connected to the detent by the rod 22. When the control stick is moved to the rear to reverse the transmission, the detent 24 will ride on the surface at the rear of lug 25 beyond the crown thereof, it being necessary for the operator to hold the stick in this position.

The sleeve 8 extends rearwardly to the point where it is connected through the variable ratio mechanism to the rudder control cables. At this point, shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the sleeve is mounted in a bearing 30. An adjustable brake band 32 may be applied to the sleeve 8 to retard any tendency of the stick to fall to either side if the hold thereon is released. The sleeve also rotates in the lower end of a sector gear 33 which is fixed in position by two adjustable tie rods 34 by which the exact angular initial position of the sector may be determined and adjusted. 0n the extremity oi the sleeve 8 is keyed the arm 35 which in the straight-ahead position of the rudder bisects the sector 33. In the outer end of the arm 35 are roller bearings 36 in which is mounted the transverse shaft 38, one end of which extends over the outer rim of the sector 33 and carries a fixed pinion 40 which rolls over and is in mesh with the sector. The opposite end of the shaft is provided with a disk 4| having an eccentrically located crank pin 42 which rotates within a block 44. To the block at either side of the pin 42 are attached the two ends of the cables 45 which are extended to the rudder.

It will be seen that as the arm 35 is moved by the control stick and sleeve 8, it carries the block 44 to the right or left and actuates the rudder cable 45, but as the block is not directly attached to the arm 35, the extent of its lateral movement with respect to the angular movement of the arm is modified by the cooperation of the parts just described. For example, as the arm 35 moves in a clockwise direction, the pinion 40 is rotated in its bearings, causing the pin 42 to describe an arc in the same direction. Thus the lateral movement of block 44, by reason of the fact that it is carried on the arm 35, is at first reduced by the movement of the pin 42 in the same direction due to rolling of the pinion 48 aboutthe sector. But as the pin reaches the top of its arc, the lateral movement of the block is the sum of the two components.

This is shown in Fig. 8 in which the actual path of the pin 42 is shown by the line P, while its rotary motion is shown by the line R. The degrees of movement of the arm are shown by the radial lines S, while the extent of lateral movement of the pin 42 and consequently'the travel of the cable block to the right or left is shown on the line T on which are projected the aeoaozc various locations or the center of the :pin A2 as arm 35 is rocked to the right or left.

This view demonstrates that for equal degrees of angular movement of the arm 3 5, the resultant lateral movement of the mock-44 varies on either side of the center line. A given movement of thecontrol stick at or near the center or straightahead position of the rudder gives a relatively email lateral movement to the block, "while the extent of lateral movement of the block :for each equivalent movement of the stick is increased at either extreme. This gives the sensitive rudder control which is essential at or near the normal rudder position and the amplified rudder movement at either extreme "when rapid change of direction is desirable. It :will also be :seen that total range of movement of the control stick is less than 90 and yet, during this limited movement, the rudder has'been moved from one extreme to the other. By providing the variable ratio between stick movement and rudder movement, it is possible to secure su'iliciently sensitive control of therudderto make such an adaptation of pivoted stick operation of the rudder *practical.

As is shown more particulafly in Figs. 7 and '8, the radius of the eccentric or crank 42 is somewhat less than the radius of the pitch line of the gear #8). This is shown by the dotted 'line extensions in Fig. "7 where the line it represents the radiusof the-pitchlineo'f the gear and .theiline b the "radius of the eccentric. Similar letters :are appliedin Fig. 8 to'the arcs described by these points. The purpose of this differential between the two radii is to impart greater sensitiveness to the "variable ratio mechanism in the central region of rudder movement. By theemployment of dii'ierential radii, the lateral movement of the block is decelerated when the arm is passing through the -midway or wertical position. Likewise, the (differential radii serve to magnify the variable ratio action as the "arm approaches either extreme.

Referring now to the connection tbetween the block and the rudder, the cable 45, as is shown '1,

more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, passes in a loop from one side of the block around :a sheave 5B and the two reaches of cable pass over the pair of sheaves "52 and thence 'tothe stern of the heat where the cables are looped over the pair of sheaves '53 and the single sheave 54 and pass to the sector 55 where the ends :are anchored. The sector 55 removably keyed to the upper -=end o'f the vertical rudder shaft :which lis housed of the boat and supported by the bracket $2 from the stern.

"I'he sheaves-50 and 52 form-apart of the trimmer mechanism by which the rudder may be set to give'an initial angular defiection without altering thepositi'ono'f the control stick. mechanism "is mounted on aibase :plate :85 located in an angular position so that the run of the cable containing the block it .will he at right :angles -tothe=ce1iteriline=of the'=boat. Mounted at one end of the-base on a post 65 is the swinging :arm '68 which rotatably supports the sheave 50. :On the other end of the base on the "post 69 is a second arm "Ill maintained in parallel relation to the arm 68 -by the connecting link 12. On the end of this arm. 10 are married the sheaves 52. To the arm '10 fixed a lateral extension 13 in the end of which is rotatably mounted ia n-ut 15 which engages the threaded portion of ashatt 18. Adjustable stop collars 18 limit the movemerit of the nut on the shaft Iii. :16 is connected by-the link I18 and :universal Joints to a shaft 19 which is rotatably mounted in the partition '2' and is connected by sprockets and chain with the crankshatt 8-2 by which operator can alter the setting of the parallelogram constituted by the members 68, 1|] and 112.

it will be seen that rotation of the shaft 18 will deform the parallelogram and the sheavesfill and iii-either to the right or left which will :cause a corresponding movement in the cable without affecting the location of the block M. this way the pilot may .make a controlling ad oustment of the rudder to combat any tendency of theiboat to drift .ofi its course by wind conditions without shifting the control stick and, therefore, he can steer the .boat a straight course as though tit was .not subject to these-external influences.

has been indicated above, the .invention'fis embodied :in a :simple and effective combination of elements which give the desirable results specified. Exact conformity with the detailslo'f the mechanism :is not essential, but it may be adapted to a wide range of uses and for warying conditions.

What is claimed :is:

21. Asteering deviceicomprismgza mamially roperated steering means and a rudder, connections from the steering :means to the-rudder, a nd means -located in the connections :to increase the ratio of movement or the steering means with respect to the movement of the rudder when the rudder is in straight-ahead position, said last *named means comprising a stationary sector and a pinion in mesh with and movable over the sector as the steering meansis moved.

2. A steering device comprising a manually operated steering means and 'a rudder, connections-from the steering means to'the rudder, and mechanism located in the connections "to progres- .sively decrease the amplitude of angular move- :ment of the rudder as it approaches "its central position while maintaining a constant rate of movement'of "the steering means, said mechanism compris'ingastationary sector, a'pinion in mesh with and movable over the sectonand means to move saidpinion actuated by the steering means.

3. A steering device comprising a manually operated steering means, a rudder, connections between the steering means and the rudder, and :a variable ratio couple in the connections for progressively diminishing the amplitude'of movement of the rudder for a given amplitude of movement 01 the steering means as the rudder moves from either extreme position toward a -central position, said couple comprising a sector, :a gear in mesh with the sector and movable by 'the'steering means along the sector, and a crank pin on the gear to which therudder is'connecte'd.

4. A steering "device comprising a pivoted stick having a "limited overall range of angular moveenema, a'rudd'er, connections between the rudder andthestick and avariable ratio couple in said :connections, said couple embodying means for imparting a lesser amplitude ofmovement to the rudder than *the amplitude of movement of the stick when the rudder is near its central position and imparting agreater amplitude of movement to the rudder than the amplitude oimovement of the stick when the rudder isnear either extremeof its movement;

A :steering device' comprisin-g a steering means having an overall angular movement 'of not more than lid! and a pivoted rudder, *connections between the rudder and the steering means, and mechanism in said connections constructed and adapted to impart'greater'angular movement to the rudder with respect to a given angular degree of movement of the steering means-as the rudder approaches either extreme position.

6. A steering device comprising a movable steering means having an overall movement of not more than 180 and a pivoted rudder, and means to transmit the motion of the steering means to the rudder including mechanism to imparta lesser degree of movement to the rudder with respect to a given degree of movement of the steering means as the rudder approaches its central position.

a 7. In a ship control, a pivoted control stick having an overall range of movement of not more than 180, a rudder, connections to transmit the movement of the stick to the rudder, and a variable ratio device in the connections to impart an amplitude of movement to the rudder which is less than the amplitude of movement of the stick when the rudder is near its central position.

8. In a ship control, a pivoted control stick having an overall range of movement of not more than 180", a rudder, connections to transmit the movement of the stick to the rudder, and a variable ratio device in the connections to impart an amplitude of movement to the rudder which is less than the amplitude of movement of the stick when the rudder is near its central position and to impart a greater amplitude of movement to the rudder when it is near either extreme position.

9. In a ship control, a pivoted control stick having an overall range of movement of not more than-180, a rudder, a cable connected to the rudder, a cable actuating block, means to shift the block movable by the control stick, said means including a variable ratio device which increases the rate of movement of the block over the rate of movement of the control stick as'the rudder approaches either extreme of its movement.

10. In a ship control, a pivoted control stick having an overall range of movement of not more than 180", a rudder, a cable connected to the rudder, a cable actuating block, means to shift the block movable by the control stick, said means including a variable ratio device which decreases the rate of movement of the block as the rudder approaches its central position.

11. In a ship control, a pivoted control stick, a rudder, a cable connected to the rudder, a cable actuating block, a rock shaft actuated by the stick, a stationary gear sector, a pinion meshing with and movable over the gear sector by the motion of the shaft, and a pin eccentrically mounted on the pinion and received in the block.

12. In a ship control, a pivoted control stick, a rudder, a cable connected to the rudder, a cable actuating block, a rock shaft actuated by the stick, a stationary gear sector, a pinion meshing with and movable over the gear sector by the motion of the shaft, and a pin eccentrically mounted on the pinion and received in the block, said pin being so located-that it is in line with the centers of the pinion and the shaft when the control stick is in a central position.

13. In a ship control, a manually operable steering means, a rudder, connections between the rudder and the steering means, mechanism in the connections to vary the amplitude of move- ,ment of the rudder with respect to a given amplitude of movement of the steering means, and means to vary the setting of the rudderwithout moving the steering means or the amplitude varying mechanism.

14. In a ship control, a manually operable steering means, a rudder, connections between the rudder and the steering means, mechanism in the connections to vary the amplitude of movement of the rudder with respect to a given amplitude of movement of the steering means, trimming means operative without affecting the said mechanism to change the pitch of the rudder, and means to actuate the trimming means independently of the steering means.

15. In a ship control, a manually operable steering means, a rudder, connections between the rudder and the steering means including a cable, and a trimming means to vary the position of the rudder independently of the steering means, said trimming means including sheaves over which the cable is looped, an approximate parallelogram framework for supporting the sheaves, means to change the angles of said framework, and a variable ratio device, operative without afiecting the trimming means, to vary the angular deflection of the rudder with respect to a given movement of the steering means.

16. In a ship control, a manually operable steering means, a rudder, connections between the rudder and the steering means including a cable, a trimming means to vary the position of the rudder independently of the steering means, and a variable ratio mechanism between the steering means and. the cable and operative without afiecting the trimming means to accelerate the rate of movement of the rudder as it approaches either extreme position.

17. In a ship control, a manually operable steering means, a rudder, connections between the rudder and the steering means including a cable, a trimming means to vary the position of the rudder independently of the steering'means, and a variable ratio mechanism between the steering means and the cable and operative without affecting the trimming means to decelerate the rate of movement of the rudder as it approaches its central position.

18. In a ship control, a pivoted control stick, an arm connected to the control stick to move therewith, a pinion on the movable end of the arm, a stationary gear sector in mesh with the pinion, a pin eccentrically mounted on the pinion. a rudder, a cable connected to the rudder, a block on the cable connected to the eccentric pin, and means acting on the cable to change the pitch of the rudder independently of the control stick.

19. In a ship control, a pivoted control stick, an arm connected to the control stick to move therewith, a pinion on the movable end of the arm. a stationary gear sector in mesh with the pinion, a pin eccentrically mounted on the pinion, a rudder, a cable connected to the rudder, a block on the cable connected to the eccentric pin, and means to change the setting of the rudder operative independently of the control stick and without interfering with the movement of the rudder by the control stick.

20. In a ship control, a pivoted'control stick, an arm connected to the control stick to move therewith, a pinion on the movable end of the arm, a stationary gear sector in mesh with the pinion, a pin eccentrically mounted-"on the pinion, a,rudder, a cable connected to the rudder, a. block on the cable connected to the eccentric pin, and means to change the setting of the rudder operative independently of the control stick and without interfering with the movement of the rudder by the control stick, said last named means comprising a bodily shiftable sheave over which the cable is looped.

21. A mechanism as described in claim 18 in which the pin is in line with the center of the pinion and the center of the sector when the control stick is in its central position.

22. A mechanism as described in claim 19 in which the pin is in line with the center of the pinion and the center of the sector when the control stick is in its central position.

23. A control device including a rudder and rudder actuating means, means to cause the rudder to move at a lesser rate of angular deflection than the actuating means and at a greater rate of angular deflection than the actuating meanswhen the rudder is near its central position and either extreme position, respectively, and a device for varying the pitch of the rudder without atfecting the operation of the other devices set forth.

24. A control device including a rudder and rudder actuating means, means operative without varying the rate of movement of the actuating means to cause the rudder to move at a lesser rate of angular deflection than the actuating means and at a greater rate of angular deflection than the actuating means when the rudder is near its central position and either extreme position, respectively, and a device for varying the pitch of the rudder without affecting the operation of the other devices set forth.

25. In a ship control, a rudder, an operating cable connected to the rudder, pulleys over which the cable is looped, parallel pivoted arms for supporting the pulleys, a block connected to the cable between the pulleys, steering mechanism connected to the block, and means to rock the arms in unison to vary the efiective length of the cable to each side of the rudder.

26. In a ship control, a rudder, an operating cable connected to the rudder, pulleys over which the cable is trained, steering mechanism connected to the cable between the pulleys, and means to move the pulleys in unison to vary the efiective length of the cable to each side of the rudder.

27. A steering device comprising a pivoted control stick, a rocking arm movable with the pivotal movement of the stick, a stationary gear segment. a gear carried by the arm and in mesh with the segment, an eccentric carried by the gear, the radius of the eccentric being less than the radius of the pitch line of the gear, and rudder operating means connected to the eccentric.

28. A rudder control mechanism comprising a pivoted stick, a rocking arm movable with the pivotal movement of the stick, a shaft carried by the arm, driving means to impart a planetary movement to the shaft as the arm is rocked about its axis, an eccentric on the shaft, the radius of the eccentric being less than the radius of the driving means, and connections from the eccentric to the rudder to impart turning movement to the rudder.

29. A rudder control mechanism comprising a pivoted stick, a rocking arm movable with the pivotal movement of the stick, a shaft carried by the arm, a gear on the shaft, a stationary gear segment adjacent the arm and in mesh with the gear, a crank on the shaft, the radius of the crank being less than the radius of the pitch line of the gear, and connections from the crank to the rudder.

30. A rudder control mechanism comprising a pivoted stick, a rocking arm connected to and movable with the pivotal movement of the stick, a shaft carried by the arm, a geared member adjacent the arm, a gear on the shaft in mesh with the geared member, a crank on the shaft, and rudder operating mechanism connected to the crank and movable thereby, the radius of the crank being less than the radius of the pitch line of the gear.

31. A rudder control mechanism comprising a pivoted stick, a rocking arm connected to and movable with the pivotal movement of the stick, a shaft carried by the arm, a driver for imparting a planetary motion to the shaft as the rocking arm moves about its axis, an eccentric connected to the shaft, the radius of the eccentric being less than the radius of the driver, and connections from the eccentric to the rudder to impart turning movement to the rudder.

JOHN F. MORSE. 

